Paul Mashatile facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency Paul Mashatile MP
Mashatile in October 2024
9th Deputy President of South Africa
Incumbent
Assumed office 7 March 2023
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded by	David Mabuza
11th Deputy President of the African National Congress
Incumbent
Assumed office 19 December 2022
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded by	David Mabuza
Member of the National Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 February 2023
Preceded by	Tshilidzi Munyai
In office 2 November 2010 – 5 February 2016
Preceded by	Mondli Gungubele
Succeeded by	Doreen Senokoanyane
Constituency	Gauteng
Minister of Arts and Culture
In office 1 November 2010 – 25 May 2014
President	Jacob Zuma
Preceded by	Lulu Xingwana
Succeeded by	Nathi Mthethwa
4th Premier of Gauteng
In office 7 October 2008 – 6 May 2009
Preceded by	Mbhazima Shilowa
Succeeded by	Nomvula Mokonyane
Member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature
In office 27 April 1994 – May 2009
Prior party offices 1994‍–‍2022 Secretary-General of the African National Congress Acting In office 19 January 2022 – 19 December 2022 Serving with Jessie Duarte until 17 July 2022 President Cyril Ramaphosa Preceded by Ace Magashule Succeeded by Fikile Mbalula Treasurer-General of the African National Congress In office 18 December 2017 – 19 December 2022 President Cyril Ramaphosa Preceded by Zweli Mkhize Succeeded by Gwen Ramokgopa Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress in Gauteng In office 7 October 2007 – 18 December 2017 Deputy Nomvula Mokonyane Gwen Ramokgopa David Makhura Preceded by Mbhazima Shilowa Succeeded by David Makhura Deputy Provincial Chairperson of the African National Congress in Gauteng In office January 1998 – 1999 Chairperson Mathole Motshekga Preceded by Mathole Motshekga Succeeded by Angie Motshekga Provincial Secretary of the African National Congress in Gauteng In office 7 May 1994 – 19 January 1998 Chairperson Tokyo Sexwale Preceded by Position established Succeeded by Obed Bapela
Personal details
Born	Paul Shipokosa Mashatile (1961-10-21) 21 October 1961 (age 63) Gerhardsville, South Africa
Political party	African National Congress
Other political affiliations	South African Communist Party (Tripartite Alliance)
Spouses	Manzi Ellen ​ (died 2020)​ Hlumile Mjongile ​ (m. 2023)​
Occupation	Politician activist

Paul Shipokosa Mashatile (born on October 21, 1961) is an important South African politician. He is currently the 9th Deputy President of South Africa. He also holds a high position in the main political party, the African National Congress (ANC), as its Deputy President since December 2022. Before that, he managed the ANC's money as Treasurer-General and even acted as its Secretary-General.

Paul Mashatile was once an activist who fought against apartheid (a system of racial segregation). He was part of the United Democratic Front. He served in President Jacob Zuma's first government as the Minister of Arts and Culture from 2010 to 2014. Before that, he was briefly the leader, or Premier, of the Gauteng province from 2008 to 2009. He held several other important jobs in the Gauteng provincial government between 1996 and 2008, and again from 2014 to 2018. He is still very influential in Gauteng, his home province, where he was also the ANC's Provincial Chairperson from 2007 to 2017. In 2025, he allegedly faced a serious threat to his life.

Early Life and Activism

Paul Mashatile was born on October 21, 1961, in Gerhardsville. This area is now part of the Tshwane city in the Gauteng province. His mother, Marriam Nomvula Mashatile, worked as a domestic helper.

Fighting Apartheid

While he was a student, Mashatile started his political journey as an activist against apartheid in Alexandra, Gauteng. He was a member of the Congress of South African Students. In 1983, he helped start the Alexandra Youth Congress and became its first president. That same year, he attended the launch of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Cape Town. Two years later, he became the UDF's regional secretary for Southern Transvaal. He held this position until the UDF ended in 1991. In 1985, he was arrested for his political work and held without trial until 1989.

Rising in Gauteng Province

When the apartheid government allowed the African National Congress (ANC) and South African Communist Party (SACP) to operate legally again in 1990, Mashatile joined their temporary leadership. His job was to help set up their new legal groups across the country, especially in the PWV region, which later became Gauteng. This period helped Mashatile build strong support in the region.

Early Roles in the ANC

He was appointed the temporary regional secretary of the SACP in 1990. From 1991 to 1992, he was in charge of the ANC's political education program in the region. In 1992, he was elected Provincial Secretary of the Gauteng ANC. In this role, he worked closely with the Provincial Chairperson, Tokyo Sexwale.

Working in Provincial Government

In South Africa's first democratic elections in 1994, Mashatile was elected to the Gauteng provincial parliament. He became the leader of the house. Two years later, he joined the provincial cabinet, where he served for 13 years. He started as the Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Transport and Public Works (1996–1998). Then he became MEC for Safety and Security (1998–1999).

Under Premier Mbhazima Shilowa, he held important roles as MEC for Human Settlements (1999–2004) and for Finance and Economic Affairs (2004–2008). He was a close friend and trusted helper of Shilowa. As the Finance MEC, he was involved in planning the Gautrain project, which is a fast train system.

Leading the Provincial ANC

During this time, Mashatile also moved up in the Gauteng ANC. He remained Provincial Secretary until 1998. Then he was elected Deputy Provincial Chairperson under the new Provincial Chairperson, Mathole Motshekga. Mashatile was seen as an opponent of Motshekga in the years that followed.

In 2001, when the provincial party elected new leaders, Mashatile was considered a possible successor to Motshekga. However, he ran for deputy chairperson again and lost to Angie Motshekga. In 2004, he tried for the deputy chairperson role again but was beaten by Motshekga once more. Despite this, he remained a regular member of the ANC's Provincial Executive Committee. He also remained a member of the SACP until at least 2007.

ANC Gauteng Chairperson

Becoming Provincial Chairperson in 2007

At the provincial ANC's next meeting in 2007, Mashatile aimed for the provincial chairperson position. This is the most senior role in the provincial party. He ran against fellow MECs Angie Motshekga and Nomvula Mokonyane. Motshekga was seen as his main competitor.

On October 7, 2007, Mashatile was elected ANC Provincial Chairperson, with Mokonyane as his deputy.

Premier of Gauteng: 2008–2009

On October 7, 2008, Mashatile was elected Gauteng Premier. He took over from Shilowa, who had resigned. However, Mashatile served as Premier for less than a year. On May 6, 2009, after the 2009 general election, he was replaced as Premier by Nomvula Mokonyane. He was then appointed to a less senior role as Deputy Minister for Arts and Culture under President Jacob Zuma. This was seen as a setback for Mashatile, given his popularity in the province.

Minister of Arts and Culture: 2010–2014

At the Gauteng ANC's meeting in May 2010, Mashatile won re-election as ANC Provincial Chairperson. He received 531 votes, while Mokonyane received 356. After the vote, the new ANC provincial executive asked Mokonyane to change her cabinet to include three of Mashatile's allies. On October 31, 2010, Zuma announced Mashatile's promotion to Minister of Arts and Culture. Mashatile became a member of the National Assembly to take up this position.

Leaving Provincial Government

After the 2014 elections, Zuma was re-elected as national president and removed Mashatile from his cabinet. Mashatile then served as chair of the appropriations committee in the National Assembly. He was also re-elected, without opposition, as ANC Gauteng Chairperson in October 2014. He left the national parliament in February 2016. He was then appointed MEC for Human Settlements and Cooperative Governance in the cabinet of Gauteng Premier David Makhura, who was a close ally. He served in the provincial cabinet until early 2018.

In the National ANC

ANC Treasurer General: 2017–2022

On December 18, 2017, Mashatile was elected Treasurer General of the ANC at the party's 54th National Conference. This conference also marked the end of Zuma's time as party president. Mashatile won with 2,517 votes, beating Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, who received 2,178 votes. He ran alongside the winning presidential candidate, Cyril Ramaphosa.

The Treasurer General position was a full-time job based at the ANC's main office in Johannesburg. In January 2022, Mashatile was appointed acting ANC Secretary General. He continued in this role after the death of Deputy Secretary General Jessie Duarte in July.

ANC Deputy President: 2022–Present

On December 19, 2022, at the ANC's 55th National Conference, Mashatile was elected ANC Deputy President, serving under President Ramaphosa. He was expected to run for one of the party's top leadership positions. He became a leading candidate for the deputy presidency during the nomination stage. He was the preferred candidate in seven of the party's nine provinces. At the conference, he received just over 50% of the votes.

Deputy President of South Africa

Mashatile was appointed Deputy President of South Africa by President Cyril Ramaphosa after David Mabuza resigned. When appointing Mashatile, Ramaphosa gave him several important duties. Mashatile was made the Leader of Government Business in the Parliament of South Africa. He also became the Chairperson of the South African National Aids Council and the Chairperson of the Human Resource Development Council of South Africa. Mashatile was also appointed as a special envoy to South Sudan.

Many experts commented on Ramaphosa's choice of Mashatile. Some believed Mashatile would be a better Deputy President than his predecessor, David Mabuza. In March 2024, Mashatile represented President Ramaphosa at the Proudly South African Presidential Localization Dinner in Johannesburg. This event aimed to encourage support for local products. Mashatile also traveled to the United Kingdom to meet with government officials and business leaders. The trip was meant to attract investors to South Africa.

Personal Life

Paul Mashatile has two sons and two daughters. His wife, Manzi Ellen Mashatile, passed away in July 2020. In November 2020, he started the Manzi Mashatile Foundation to support educational programs in her memory.